Chick-Fil-A Plan In Cahaba Heights Takes Step Forward

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL - The plan to open a new Chick-fil-a restaurant in Cahaba Heights took a step forward last week, as the Vestavia Hills Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend the City Council rezone three land parcels on Crosshaven Drive and Wall Street from residential to commercial to make way for the restaurant.

Chick-fil-A wants to build a new location at 3949 Crosshaven Drive, next to Zaxby’s and the shuttered Rite Aid Pharmacy, according to a report by Village Living. To do so, the developer needs to bundle the three residential parcels at 3955 and 3959 Wall St. and 3945 Crosshaven Drive with two adjacent properties — 3949 and 3953 Crosshaven Drive — that already are zoned B-2 commercial.

Although Chick-fil-a is one of the most popular fast food restaurants in the country, many Cahaba Heights residents are not in favor of the new restaurant in the neighborhood. Several Cahaba Heights residents attended the board meeting last week to express their opposition to the plan. Increased neighborhood traffic, light pollution and noise pollution topped the list of grievances for the group in attendance.

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“This is a big issue for a lot of people,” said Jack Kubiszyn, an attorney representing the Westminster Homeowners Association. “The traffic and congestion caused by the traffic will be detrimental to the Cahaba Heights area.”

Jim Meads, a traffic engineer with Sain Associates representing Chick-fil-A, said he has discussed reviving the Crosshaven Drive expansion plans with officials from Vestavia Hills and Jefferson County.

The decision now moves to the Vestavia Hills City Council at one of its February meetings.

Photo by David Allen/Patch